The six MDC Alliance (MDCA) leaders who were arrested on Friday and charged with criminal nuisance and violating COVID-19 lockdown regulations have been granted $1 000 each and ordered not to interfere with state witnesses by Magistrate Glenda Makwande.
MDCA vice presidents Tendai Biti and Lynnette Karenyi-Kore as well as secretary for international relations Gladys Hlatywayo, her deputy Lovemore Chinoputsa, Vongai Tome and David Antony Chimhini were arrested after they tried to gain access to Harvest House, the party’s headquarters.
The MDCA officials intended to undertake their day to day activities but were blocked by police from gaining access to their offices following the building’s seizure by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T in a Thursday night raid with the assistance of the military and police.
The arrest of Biti and MDCA officials for allegedly violating lockdown regulations has raised eyebrows after Khupe and senior officials in her MDC-T party last weekend travelled all the way to Manicaland Province through Mashonaland East, to perform some rituals on the grave of the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in clear violation of the stay at home order.
Biti, et al were earlier scheduled to appear before a Magistrate this morning but were turned back when they showed up at Rotten Row around 11 am.
They were brought back later in the afternoon where Magistrate Glenda Makwande granted them bail.